The natural beauty of New Jersey often gets overlooked by outsiders. We’re seen as a mass of freeways and factories, but that’s far from the case. Residents know the truth – incredible landscapes can be found throughout the state. We have mountains, lakes, woodlands, waterfalls and so much more! Many of these spots are ideal for relaxation, as science shows that connecting with nature can significantly reduce stress. Here are some of our favorite places to enjoy nature in New Jersey:
- Columbia Wildlife Management Area, Knowlton
Nicholas A. Tonelli/Flickr This Warren County wildlife area offers views of fields, forests, mountains and the Delaware River. It’s worth every single second.
Address: Idle Lake Road, Columbia, New Jersey, 07832
- Deep Cut Gardens, Middletown
Peter Miller/Flickr Surround yourself with spectacular foliage and vibrant plant life! Open 365 days a year, the 52-acre gardens are FREE for everyone to enjoy!
Address: 152 Red Hill Road, Middletown Township, New Jersey, 07748
- Seven Mile Island, Stone Harbor
Alberto_VO5/Flickr Stone Harbor is an ideal town for nature lovers! Take a stroll on the beach, visit the Wetlands Institute, or explore the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary!
- Sunfish Pond, Hardwick
Jim Lukach/Flickr This gorgeous glacial lake is surrounded by acres of forest.
- Duke Farms, Hillsborough
Anthony Quintano/Flickr This incredible estate filled with gardens, lakes, wildlife, and water features is free to enjoy! A photographer’s paradise, Duke Farms also makes for an incredibly relaxing day trip.
Address: 1112 Dukes Parkway West, Hillsborough Township, New Jersey, 08844
- Wetlands, Dennisville
Louis Dallara/Flickr These pristine wetlands in Cape May County offer a peaceful place to ponder the meaning of life…or what’s going to be for dinner!
- Buttermilk Falls, Layton
Nicholas A. Tonelli/Flickr The sound of the rushing waterfall is sure to soothe you!
Address: Mountain Road, Layton, New Jersey, 07851
- Spring Lake Beach, Spring Lake
Nick Harris/Flickr Early morning and off-season beach trips can be incredibly calming without the crowds.
Address: Spring Lake, New Jersey, 07762
- Jenny Jump State Forest, Hope
Nicholas A. Tonelli/Flickr This photo of Ghost Lake highlights New Jersey’s beautiful fall foliage.
Address: 330 State Park Road, Hope, New Jersey, 07844
- Ringwood Manor, Ringwood
John Cudworth/Flickr Ringwood Manor is home to the gorgeous New Jersey Botanical Gardens and is surrounded by the magnificent Ramapo Mountains.
Address: 5 Morris Road, Ringwood, New Jersey, 07456
- Parvin State Park, Pittsgrove
David Slack/Flickr This southwestern state park is located on the edge of the New Jersey Pinelands. Enjoy both pine and swamp hardwood forests, along with scenic Parvin Lake. Lay back and immerse yourself in the diverse wildlife and greenery.
Address: 701 Almond Road, Pittsgrove, New Jersey, 08318
- The Red Mill Museum Village, Clinton
brando/Flickr If you want to enjoy nature without being completely surrounded by it, head to the Red Mill. One of the most photographed places in the U.S., it sits on the banks of the scenic Raritan River.
Address: 56 Main Street, Clinton, New Jersey, 08809
- Colonial Park, Somerset
Bogdan Migulski/Flickr This 685-acre park includes scenic frontage on both the historic Delaware and Raritan Canal and the Millstone River. Recreation facilities, prize winning horticultural displays, and pristine natural areas are scattered amongst the spacious lawns and charming ponds!
Address: 156 Mettlers Road, Somerset, New Jersey, 08873
- Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Worthington State Forest
Jim Lukach/Flickr When you’re standing atop a mountain looking out on the world, problems just seem smaller. This beautiful park is located in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and the address is on the PA side!
Address: 1978 River Road, Bushkill, Pennsylvania, 18324
This is only a small selection of all the incredible places in New Jersey where we can relax in nature, dozens more could be added to the list! Share your top picks and photos with me in the comments or on the Only In New Jersey Facebook Page.
Nicholas A. Tonelli/Flickr
This Warren County wildlife area offers views of fields, forests, mountains and the Delaware River. It’s worth every single second.
Address: Idle Lake Road, Columbia, New Jersey, 07832
Peter Miller/Flickr
Surround yourself with spectacular foliage and vibrant plant life! Open 365 days a year, the 52-acre gardens are FREE for everyone to enjoy!
Address: 152 Red Hill Road, Middletown Township, New Jersey, 07748
Alberto_VO5/Flickr
Stone Harbor is an ideal town for nature lovers! Take a stroll on the beach, visit the Wetlands Institute, or explore the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary!
Jim Lukach/Flickr
This gorgeous glacial lake is surrounded by acres of forest.
Anthony Quintano/Flickr
This incredible estate filled with gardens, lakes, wildlife, and water features is free to enjoy! A photographer’s paradise, Duke Farms also makes for an incredibly relaxing day trip.
Address: 1112 Dukes Parkway West, Hillsborough Township, New Jersey, 08844
Louis Dallara/Flickr
These pristine wetlands in Cape May County offer a peaceful place to ponder the meaning of life…or what’s going to be for dinner!
The sound of the rushing waterfall is sure to soothe you!
Address: Mountain Road, Layton, New Jersey, 07851
Nick Harris/Flickr
Early morning and off-season beach trips can be incredibly calming without the crowds.
Address: Spring Lake, New Jersey, 07762
This photo of Ghost Lake highlights New Jersey’s beautiful fall foliage.
Address: 330 State Park Road, Hope, New Jersey, 07844
John Cudworth/Flickr
Ringwood Manor is home to the gorgeous New Jersey Botanical Gardens and is surrounded by the magnificent Ramapo Mountains.
Address: 5 Morris Road, Ringwood, New Jersey, 07456
David Slack/Flickr
This southwestern state park is located on the edge of the New Jersey Pinelands. Enjoy both pine and swamp hardwood forests, along with scenic Parvin Lake. Lay back and immerse yourself in the diverse wildlife and greenery.
Address: 701 Almond Road, Pittsgrove, New Jersey, 08318
brando/Flickr
If you want to enjoy nature without being completely surrounded by it, head to the Red Mill. One of the most photographed places in the U.S., it sits on the banks of the scenic Raritan River.
Address: 56 Main Street, Clinton, New Jersey, 08809
Bogdan Migulski/Flickr
This 685-acre park includes scenic frontage on both the historic Delaware and Raritan Canal and the Millstone River. Recreation facilities, prize winning horticultural displays, and pristine natural areas are scattered amongst the spacious lawns and charming ponds!
Address: 156 Mettlers Road, Somerset, New Jersey, 08873
When you’re standing atop a mountain looking out on the world, problems just seem smaller. This beautiful park is located in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and the address is on the PA side!
Address: 1978 River Road, Bushkill, Pennsylvania, 18324
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
Address: Idle Lake Rd, Columbia, NJ 07832, USAAddress: 152 Red Hill Rd, Middletown Township, NJ 07748, USAAddress: Seven Mile Island, Avalon, NJ 08202, USAAddress: Sunfish Pond, Hardwick Township, NJ 07832, USAAddress: 1112 Dukes Pkwy W, Hillsborough Township, NJ 08844, USAAddress: Dennisville, Dennis, NJ, USAAddress: Mountain Road, Mountain Rd, Walpack Township, NJ, USAAddress: Spring Lake Beach, Spring Lake, NJ 07762, USAAddress: 330 State Park Rd, Blairstown, NJ 07825, USAAddress: 5 Morris Rd, Ringwood, NJ 07456, USAAddress: 701 Almond Rd, Pittsgrove, NJ 08318, USAAddress: 56 Main St, Clinton, NJ 08809, USAAddress: 156 Mettlers Rd, Somerset, NJ 08873, USAAddress: 1978 River Rd, Bushkill, PA 18324, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Places to Enjoy Nature in New Jersey March 15, 2021 Tori Jane What are the most popular New Jersey hikes? Amazingly, there are over 1,100 beautiful hiking trails scattered throughout the Garden State. Among the most popular are the Red & Blue Dot Trails, on Mount Tammany, the White Shore & Long Path Loop Trail, in Palisades Interstate Park, and the amazing Stairway To Heaven Trail in Wawayanda State Park. They’re all very highly rated, with thousands of reviews each. Considering the insanely vast number of trails we have in New Jersey, it’s pretty awesome to see certain ones understandably becoming favorites among the locals. Where are some beautiful places in New Jersey? Well, we’re called the Garden State for a reason! We’re surrounded by stunning, lush green landscapes, and we have 50 different state parks to explore as well, which are all simply breathtaking in their own ways. Some of our favorite scenic spots in New Jersey include the Wyanokie High Point, at Norvin Green State Park, the awe-inspiring East Point Lighthouse, in Heislerville, and Branch Brook Park, in Newark, which lights up every spring with incredible cherry blossoms. Make sure to bring a camera - you’re going to want to remember this forever. Make sure to check this list out for ideas for your next New Jersey getaway! Where can I go on outdoor adventures in New Jersey? New Jersey is a great state full of potential for epic outdoor adventures! With thousands of miles of hiking trails, 50 state parks, endless campgrounds (and even lots of “glamping”!), and so much more, it’s nearly impossible for anyone who loves the outdoors to grow tired of living in the Garden State. The possibilities are endless, from camping and fishing to hiking and boating, you’ll definitely find some awesome things to do! We suggest visiting each state park one by one - they’re all designated as state parks for a reason, and usually that reason is that they hold significant cultural or natural value and beauty.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Places to Enjoy Nature in New Jersey
March 15, 2021
Tori Jane
What are the most popular New Jersey hikes? Amazingly, there are over 1,100 beautiful hiking trails scattered throughout the Garden State. Among the most popular are the Red & Blue Dot Trails, on Mount Tammany, the White Shore & Long Path Loop Trail, in Palisades Interstate Park, and the amazing Stairway To Heaven Trail in Wawayanda State Park. They’re all very highly rated, with thousands of reviews each. Considering the insanely vast number of trails we have in New Jersey, it’s pretty awesome to see certain ones understandably becoming favorites among the locals. Where are some beautiful places in New Jersey? Well, we’re called the Garden State for a reason! We’re surrounded by stunning, lush green landscapes, and we have 50 different state parks to explore as well, which are all simply breathtaking in their own ways. Some of our favorite scenic spots in New Jersey include the Wyanokie High Point, at Norvin Green State Park, the awe-inspiring East Point Lighthouse, in Heislerville, and Branch Brook Park, in Newark, which lights up every spring with incredible cherry blossoms. Make sure to bring a camera - you’re going to want to remember this forever. Make sure to check this list out for ideas for your next New Jersey getaway! Where can I go on outdoor adventures in New Jersey? New Jersey is a great state full of potential for epic outdoor adventures! With thousands of miles of hiking trails, 50 state parks, endless campgrounds (and even lots of “glamping”!), and so much more, it’s nearly impossible for anyone who loves the outdoors to grow tired of living in the Garden State. The possibilities are endless, from camping and fishing to hiking and boating, you’ll definitely find some awesome things to do! We suggest visiting each state park one by one - they’re all designated as state parks for a reason, and usually that reason is that they hold significant cultural or natural value and beauty.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Amazingly, there are over 1,100 beautiful hiking trails scattered throughout the Garden State. Among the most popular are the Red & Blue Dot Trails, on Mount Tammany, the White Shore & Long Path Loop Trail, in Palisades Interstate Park, and the amazing Stairway To Heaven Trail in Wawayanda State Park. They’re all very highly rated, with thousands of reviews each. Considering the insanely vast number of trails we have in New Jersey, it’s pretty awesome to see certain ones understandably becoming favorites among the locals.
Where are some beautiful places in New Jersey?
Well, we’re called the Garden State for a reason! We’re surrounded by stunning, lush green landscapes, and we have 50 different state parks to explore as well, which are all simply breathtaking in their own ways. Some of our favorite scenic spots in New Jersey include the Wyanokie High Point, at Norvin Green State Park, the awe-inspiring East Point Lighthouse, in Heislerville, and Branch Brook Park, in Newark, which lights up every spring with incredible cherry blossoms. Make sure to bring a camera - you’re going to want to remember this forever. Make sure to check this list out for ideas for your next New Jersey getaway!
Where can I go on outdoor adventures in New Jersey?
New Jersey is a great state full of potential for epic outdoor adventures! With thousands of miles of hiking trails, 50 state parks, endless campgrounds (and even lots of “glamping”!), and so much more, it’s nearly impossible for anyone who loves the outdoors to grow tired of living in the Garden State. The possibilities are endless, from camping and fishing to hiking and boating, you’ll definitely find some awesome things to do! We suggest visiting each state park one by one - they’re all designated as state parks for a reason, and usually that reason is that they hold significant cultural or natural value and beauty.
